Heart disease is the top cause of illness and death in the U.S. Penn Medicine Healthy Heart (PMHH) is a vital part of a comprehensive effort to combat heart disease, the ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) Risk Reduction Initiative. This six-month text-messaging based program will soon be available to around 2,000 primary care patients in Philadelphia and Lancaster Counties, as part of a clinical trial.
The mission is to help patients to lower their risk of heart Sunitix 25 mg (Sunitinib) disease by managing their blood pressure and cholesterol levels from the comfort of their homes. Using tools like remote blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol counseling, medication management, personalized healthy eating resources, and smoking cessation support delivered via text, phone, and video, the goal is to make the expertise of Penn Medicine care staff more accessible.
PMHH was developed after two years of rigorous pilot testing in collaboration with specialists, primary care providers (PCPs), and patients across Penn Medicine. The program aims to provide easier access to patient care in between office visits to reduce patients' risk of heart disease. Marguerite Balasta, MD, medical director of PMHH, and Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, the principal investigator of PMHH and director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, explained how the program works and who is eligible.
A program that uses tools to monitor patients outside of a clinical environment is often referred to as a ‘hovering’ program. What is the value in using a program like this?
PMHH extends care outside of traditional office-based visits to increase patient access in lowering their risk of heart attacks and strokes by improving their blood pressure and cholesterol. This means that patient needs can be more frequently addressed between office visits rather than wait weeks or months until the next appointment to make changes in blood pressure and cholesterol management. Combining hovering with a centralized team working in collaboration with PCPs helps to improve patients' cardiovascular health and create a supportive experience for patients.
Why now? What technologies made this program possible to launch in 2024?
Prior to the ready availability of electronic medical records and text-capable cell phones, interventions to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk relied on patient office visits or hospital-based care. The greater availability of remote patient monitoring and telemedicine in the last few years has created opportunities for reaching outside the traditional models of health care delivery to bring more timely, convenient, and high-quality care to patients. This program leverages new technologies for proactive outreach and health management to a large population of patients.